Facade

By Seven

This story is based on a pair of identical twin brothers’ name, Leon and Dion.
They both grew up together with their father in the heart of Newark, New Jersey. Even though they went to two different high schools, and ran the streets with two different crowds. They still shared that brotherly love for one another.
Leon went to Central High School on the other side of town, and stayed studing in his books. But he had a bad habit of chasing girls from all over the city.
Dion on the other hand went to Shabazz High School not far from there house, but he barely went to school because he preferred to sell drugs on the street.
These brothers would switch roles all the time as they were growing up, to help one another get what the other one wanted.
When they both go off to college, then one of them comes home for the weekend and get brutally murdered. The other brother refuse to return back home until ten years later. Nobody really knew which brother was murder, so the living brother acts like his decease brother to find his killer.
Totally two different people in all aspects, but identical physically.

Peace, Seven

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798369417478

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 by Seven.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 03/01/2024

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

857765

I dedicate this book to

my nation of people and my loving mother…..

Always first and foremost I think myself first-

Because without acknowledging myself this cannot be brought into existence…..

Plus,

My up and coming seeds

Karisma-

Akbar and Divine

My sharpest sword

And divine tool-

Which manifests a clear picture of My reality-

And my manifestation of my existence

Is the pain…

Peace, Seven Divine Allah

Facade......

Look in the depth of my eyes

Do you know me

Take a real deep ass look

Do you remember me

I’m giving you the allusion of-

Who you want me to be

Could you see my hurt and pain

My feelings is buried

But they still remain

Only if you really knew the anger

That’s traveling through my brain.....

How about that love you never-

Knew about

Now really think about it

Do you really know me

Hell no you don’t know me

You don’t even know yourself

How can you know me from-

Somebody else........

Only I know what’s going on in my head

Especially-

When I’m keeping my brother a live

And its been ten years, he’s been dead

Do you know if I’m telling-

The truth

Or if I have lied

I have a lot of shit buried inside

You really don’t know me

Because I’m continuously putting up-

A Facade........

Peace, Seven

Contents

Chapter 1   The Return from the Dead

Chapter 2   Double Trouble

Chapter 3   The Jump Off....

Chapter 4   Lover Lee-Lee

Chapter 5   Dee-Dee Doing His Numbers

Chapter 6   The Summer That You Won’t Forget

Chapter 7   The Sit Down

Chapter 8   The Twist....

Chapter 9   Back to the Bricks

Chapter 10  Ball into You Fall

Chapter 11  California Dream

Chapter 12  Why Couldn’t Things Just Be

Chapter 13  Not Easily Forgotten

Chapter 14  Let the Games Began

Chapter 15  Let My Presence Be Known

Chapter 16  Home Sweet Home

Chapter 17  Next on the Menu

Chapter 18  Three Heads Are Better Than One

Chapter 19  Pressure Bust Pipes

Chapter 20  Kill Two Birds With One Stone

Chapter 21  Don’t Hate the Player But Respect the Game

Chapter 22  You Can’t Run From Your Own Shadow

Chapter 23  Everything in the Dark Will Eventually Come to Light

Chapter 1

THE RETURN FROM THE DEAD

As he steps out the taxi in the heart of the grave yard in the middle of nowhere. He looks at all the perfectly line tombstones lined up in the open field. The sun is shining, but his heart feels like a thunderstorm. So he reaches into his inside pocket of his tailor made suit and pulls out his wallet and pays the taxi driver with a huge tip. Then he tells the driver, I will be alright. Thanks. In a soft tone as he looks over towards his family plot. The driver says, Thanks dude! As he looks at the big face $100 bill, and slowly pulls away. He slowly walks towards the plot with a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. He felt as though it was a pull towards the graves as he literally floated toward the tombstones. Him and his twin brother have been out here many Mother’s Days with their father Earl. But he hasn’t been here in ten years, ever since his brother was laid to rest next to his mother. His mother Dorthy had died in the delivery room giving birth to him and his twin brother, and every since that day forward their father would bring them to this place every Mother’s Day until they went off to college. He remembered the hurt in his father’s eyes every time they came to their mother’s grave sight. He remembers his father getting down on his two knees saying, Dorthy I’m doing the best I can with these two boys. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. And tears would roll down his father’s cheeks. They never knew their mother, but they knew she was a good woman by the stories their father used to tell them. Earl himself was a good man who drove trucks for a living. Earl stood every bit of 6 in a half feet high, and he and his brother were short like there mother Dorthy. Earl was a very built man, and handsome, but the long hours of driving took a lot from his looks. Their mother was a beautiful thing, she stood only 5 foot 4, which is the same height he stands to this day. He has his father’s handsome looks, and his mother’s high yellow complexion. You could see Earl and Dorthy all in his physical form, and him and his brother were identical. Only his father could tell them apart when they stood side by side. Even their closest friends would get the two brothers mixed up. Especially when they dress identical, nobody knows one from the other.

As he stand in front of the fresh planted grave, he reads his father’s name, Earl Chambers. He felt so bad having to bury his father from his home in California. His father Earl died in his sleep 10 years to the day his twin brother was murdered. After his father called him at school and told him the breaking news of his brother’s death. He never heard from his son after that phone call. He didn’t attend his own brother funeral, or never called his father. Earl even came to the college in California to find his son, but he was up and gone. Just disappeared into thin air. Earl had lost two sons at one time, and never knew why, because he had a wonderful relationship with both of them. He felt bad for up and leaving like that, but nobody knew when he lost his brother, he lost part of himself. He promise himself he would never step back on the East Coast no more, but the deaf of his father brung him back, what he use to call home.

He looks at his mother tombstone that sits in the middle of his father and brother tombstones. He thinks back at all the visits him, his brother, and father paid there respects. It was so difficult to look at his brother’s tomb stone, so he says, Daddy I’m so sorry, you just don’t understand! And then he start to walk away without looking at his own brother’s name engrave on his head stone. He reach in his front pocket and pull out his cellphone and call another taxi to meet him at the front office of the cemetery. After that he confirm his first class flight back to Los Angeles, leaving Newark Airport. Then he checks his inside pocket for his wallet to make sure he had his tickets, but its missing. So he looks around on the ground around himself only to see that his wallet is not at his feet. He says out loud, I know I didn’t leave it in the fuckin cab. I paid the cab while I was standing outside of the car. So he begins to back track his foot steps all the way back to his love ones tombstones. What he was hoping wasn’t true, his wallet and plane ticket was sitting in the grass in front of his brother’s tombstone. Bad as he was ready to just leave it, but he couldn’t. He tried to avoid looking at his brother’s tombstone as he pick up his wallet and ticket, but for some stranger reason his eyes is planted right on the engrave name on the tombstone. His eyes widen as he fell back on the grass in front of the tombstone. He just stared as he tried to catch his breath. His heart was racing, his forehead had beads of sweat rolling down on to his face. He is just stunned by what he sees, not really surprised, but totally stunned. Deep down in his heart he knew that something like this might have happened. This is what kept him away for all these years. The tears began to roll down his cheek with the mix of sweat coming from his forehead. The tears is from his own self pity and hurt he probably put everybody through. Even though he knew it might of happened, or even been a possibility, he was hoping that it wouldn’t. His eyes is still glued to the engravement on the tombstone. Then from behind he hears a voice, Excuse me mister did you call a cab? And he turns and looks at the fat old white man and said, Yes. As he wipes his eyes and follow the man back towards his awaiting taxi. As they both enter the taxi, the old white man in the driver side, and him in the back seat behind the protected plastic glass. The fat old white man says, Newark Airport! No! Take me to the Marriott. He respond to the old white man. As he sat comfortable in the back seat for the ride. He just couldn’t get what he saw out of his head. Him, his twin laying in a casket looking exactly like himself. How could I go watch myself get buried, he though. Knowing that it was his brother, but they look very very identical. But what be wild him was seeing his own name engrave on his brother’s tombstone. It was déjà vu looking at his own name. It scared him deeply, as he wondered how could his father make that kind of mistake. If anybody knew them apart, it was Earl. So how could this happen he was thinking, but then he just burst out with laughter like a mad man. The taxi driver said, Is everything alright. He respond in a very low tone, Everything is just fine. Just get me to the hotel so I could get out these clothes into something real comfortable.

Chapter 2

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Every since Dorthy gave birth to her cute twins Leon and Dion, which shortly afterwards she died, there father Earl have been taking good care of them. Earl always dresses them alike, from infants all the way up until they were in grammar school. They grew up on Hawthorne Ave in Newark New Jersey, but they lived on Patten Place a small block over from Hawthorne Ave. Leon and Dion went to Hawthorne Ave Elementary School together. This is where they discovered that they could fool people by thinking that they were the other brother.

Leon was the type who stayed into his books and always could be found reading or studing. He always like staying after school helping his teachers especially if there was a female. Leon love to go to the library all the time, and had a thing for always bringing home stray animals. For someone who love to self educate himself, he always had a thing for the female physique. As a young kid he always surround himself with pretty girls, and always was trying to put his hands up their skirts. Leon had a way with girls, because he would spend most of his time around them.

Dion on the other hand was totally diffrent, he hated girls. He would continue to get into fights with girls. Dion didn’t really care to much about school. He stayed in trouble in school all the time, and when he wasn’t in school he was hanging out on Hawthorne Ave with the guys. Dion always had a determined idea that he was going to be a rich man. Dion would save every bit of money he would get from their father, or any other place he would get it, or make it on the streets.

These two brothers was diffrent like night and day, but you could not tell them apart. Everybody would be amaze how they look exactly alike, sound alike, but was so unalike. The one thing that was also so unique about them was they never argued or fought over nothing. Even though Dion was the more aggressive one out of the two, he always listen to Leon because he knew Leon was much more smarter than him. Plus Leon was older than Dion by 90 seconds. Their father always said to Dion, Listen to your older brother. And that’s what Dion did. Even though they was so diffrent from each other, but they taught each other their own diffrent qualities. Dion taught Leon how to fight, and Leon taught Dion how to read, write, and do arithmetic. Dion would always save all there money, because Leon would spend it as quick as he would get it. Dion was there bank, he would actually give Leon allowance. Leon would bring a stray cat or dog home and Dion would literally take care of it. With these two brothers, whatever the other one lack, the other brother process.

When they came into the house at night after their busy day playing, they would sit in their room and tell each other about their day. They would go into detail about who they was with, who they disliked, and what they have done. Their bond was so close, that when one started talking the other one could finish the sentence. Earl love to see that his sons had a beautiful bond. The first time these two brothers did the switch of roles was in the fourth grade. Dion came to Leon during lunch time and said, Lee-Lee if I don’t pass Mrs. Cutters test she is going to call daddy back to school. And I hate for daddy to come to school. You know how he is about missing work Lee-Lee. So I was thinking how about you take the test for me and I go to your class? Leon sat in the chair next to his brother and said, Dee-Dee what if I get caught, we’ll both get in trouble. Dion look his brother in the eyes and said, I need you Lee, I really do. It was no arguing from that point on and Leon said, I got ya lil bro. And they took each other books and went to each other classes for the rest of the day. They knew each other’s classes and everybody in each other’s class, so what they thought was going to be difficult was so simple.

When Leon walk into Mrs. Cutters class he sat in the front like he would do his own classes. Until his brother friend Quasim called him to the back of the class, Dee-Dee! What’s up, come sit back here and stop kissin the teachers A-S-S! Mrs. Cutters said, Quasim watch your mouth in my class, or I’ll have your mother back in here so fast you would wish you sat up front! The entire class started laughing, so Leon got up and walk to the back of the class room. Quasim said, What’s up niggah! Leon fell right into the role of his brother, Nuttin! And from that point Leon knew Dion’s own boy didn’t know the difference between him and his brother. So Leon just went with the flow. ‘Qua I’m going to knock dis damn test out, my brother help me study last night.’ ‘Yeah right! Ya dumb ass is going to fail just like all the other test.’ Quasim said. Leon was not really feeling Qua for that response, but that’s his brother’s boy so he responded just as if his brother would. Fuck you and your mama! Leon said, and then they both bust out laughing. Then this pretty dark skin girl named Lisa was sitting in front of Leon, turned around and looked the two boys in the face and said, Yall dumb ass hell! Before Quasim could respond Leon said, How are you doing Ms. Pretty? Leon was eyeballing Lisa hard until Quasim said, Dee let her turn her burnt ass around. You know we can’t stand you. Lisa suck her teeth and rolled her eyes and said, I know yall ain’t shit, because yall daddies ain’t shit. In a high tone. Leon came back, You don’t have to be so hard on us. You know I like you right. Quasim looked at Leon, and Lisa looked at Leon, and Leon smiled at Lisa and Lisa smiled at Leon. For a quick second these two were caught up in the moment. Then Leon thought to himself, what my brother would do at this time. So Leon said, Ssike! Out loud and Quasim just burst out laughing and Lisa turned around in her chair and slammed her books. Mrs. Cutters said, Let’s quiet down and prepare for the test.

Mean while down the hallway Dion had went into Leon’s class and went and sat in the back of the class by himself, and this pretty little Spanish girl name Maria said, Leon you don’t want to sit by me. And she smile at Dion as she patted on the chair next to her. Dion was not feeling this, but he had to play as his brother so he walked up front and sat down next to Maria. Maria grab his hand, and Dion snatch his hand from her. Maria said, What’s wrong Lee-Lee? Nothing you just shock me that’s all. And Dion gave her a smile, and grab her hand. Then this over size fourth grader name Abdul, who was a bully. He especially bullied Leon since Dion bullied him everytime he got a chance. Not knowing he was talking to Dion instead of Leon he said, Leon you always up in this ho face. Let me get some! As Abdul snatch Maria hand from Dion. Maria said, Stop it! You always starting with Lee-Lee. I bet you won’t say that to his brother huh! Abdul shot back, I’ll kick both there ass, but luckly me and Dion is cool, but you punk I can’t stand you! Abdul mush Dion in the side of his head. Dion was heated! So Dion said, My brother Dee-Dee threw your English book on the roof last week. Now! Everybody in the class was like, Oowa! Abdul didn’t like that, so he snatch Dion out his seat and said, You do it Leon, you bad now! And push Dion with alot of force. Maria yelled, Stop it Abdul! I’m tired of you picking on Leon! And with that Dion was thinking. This punk be picking on my brother. So Dion stood up face to face with Abdul and said, I’m tired of your shit! After school I’m going to fuck you up, and if I don’t my brother will! Nah! Nah! Lee-Lee! Its not like that! Come on man! Abdul begged. The teacher walked in the class and said, Mr. Chambers! Mr. Harrison! Sit! And open your books to chapter 4, and Ms. Hernandez read! And every body open their social studies books up and Maria started reading. While Dion sat there ready to jump on Abdul and move away from Maria. When Maria finished reading she looked up at Dion with glitter in her little gray eyes and just smiled at him. Dion smiled back because he knew his brother would have, but Dion felt like throwing up over all that mushy shit.

After their classes the two brothers met up in the boys bathroom, and Leon started first, Dee-Dee I’ve aced that test for you. It should be an A for that easy test. Also what’s up with that girl in your class named Lisa? She’s cute, why you don’t ask her out. Dion responded, You crazy! I hate her ass! Lisa black ass is always in my business. So you tell me what’s up with that Spanish chick. She kept grabbing my hand, looking at me all funny. ILCK! Then Dion spit in the bathroom sink the continued, What’s up with that punk ass niggah Abdul? I see he’s been pushin up on you huh! Nah! I could handle him. What happened to Maria? Dion said. Dion responded, Fuck Maria! You going to fight Abdul after school today! Hell no I’m not! You’re crazy! You started that shit and you will finish it! Leon said. Dion just smiled and said, With pleasure! Leon look at his brother and said, Two can play that game. And walk out the bathroom leaving Dion standing in the bathroom. After Dion took a leak and washed his hands he proceeded to his class and when he got to his class room he saw Leon sitting in the class next to Lisa laughing and joking. Dion was pissed so he asked the teacher if he could speak to his brother, but she refused and sent Dion to Leon’s class.

As soon as Dion walk into the class he walk up to Abdul and punch him in the jaw knocking him out of his chair, and stood over him and said, I’m not scared of you punk! If you ever bother me again I will have my brother kick your ass. Leon’s teacher yelled, Leon! Go to the office now! Dion smiled and walk out the class room proceeding to the office. While walking down the hallway Leon was sitting in Dion’s class next to Lisa. Leon said to her, Lisa what would you do if I kiss you? Lisa look at him as if he was crazy or something. You better not. Lisa said in a soft tone smiling at Leon. Leon reach over and grab Lisa by the chin and turned her face towards his and kiss her on the lips in front of the entire class. Everybody said OOOW! And Lisa just sat there stunned, while Quasim said, What the hell is wrong with you kissing that tar baby! Dion’s teacher said, Dion that’s enough of that! You don’t know how to conduct yourself in my class room. Go to the office! And Leon smiled at Lisa and walk out the classroom towards the principle’s office. Only to see his brother sitting in the chair outside the principle’s office. Soon Dion walks up to his brother he said, What did you do? Dion smiled and said, I punch Abdul in the face. As he began to laugh. You what! Your crazy! Leon said. No you’re crazy! Dion said. Then Dion continued, Why your not in class? Leon sat down next to Dion and place his books at his feet and said, Because you kiss Lisa in front of the class. Because I what! Are you crazy! I hate her black ass! Dion said with fury. Then Leon said, I guess we are even! I think we should switch back because I need to get myself out of the mess you got me into. Dion said. Leon said, Oh, now you want to switch back. I think we should because I’m not going to get suspended over you. They both made jokes about the next one until the principal came out, and called them both in his office individually, and gave them each 10 days detention for the other one’s actions.